Mashabela Galane and Jackson Dando at the 2018 Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards on Saturday.
THE Old Packhouse Distillery based just outside of Tzaneen yet again scooped Double Gold for one of their delectable craft gins at the 2018 Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards on last Saturday, September 29.
Last year it was their Crystal and Valencia tipples that got gin lovers a stir at the largest wine and spirits competition on the continent. This year however, the Moringa gin, packed full of punchy fennel flavours, was the one to steal the show.
The Double Gold or Grand Gold medal is no mean feat. This means that the panel of judges awarded the gin 93 out of a possible 100 points, which puts it in the top 10% of the winners.
The judging panel is made of 23 international beverage experts from 20 countries.
The Moringa gin was the brainchild of comedian Mashabela Galane who approached Mark Dando and his team at the Old Packhouse Distillery to create the beverage using the plant native to India.
The Moringas are sourced from a project in Ofcolaco, once again the Old Packhouse Distillery team sourcing ingredients as locally as possible.
Earlier this year, the Moringa gin also won the team a gold award at the SA Women’s Wine and Spirits Awards in Cape Town on Friday, June 22. The Crystal gin also took a gold title at the same event.
When asked about his inspiration behind the gin, Galane told the LETABA HERALD, “I wanted to be part of the gin revolution. I saw that moringa is being used in international society, it has so many different healing properties. So I thought why can’t I infuse gin with something good for you?”
Galane then says with a giggle, “It means you don’t have to feel guilty about drinking Moringa gin.”
Jackson Dando, represented the Old Packhouse Distillery at the awards evening told the HERALD: “The 2018 Michelangelo International Wine & Spirts Awards was an electric evening spent alongside fellow distillers and wine makers in the heart of South Africa’s Mother City. We were humbled to have been invited to the event for the second year in a row and inspired to see so many passionate people being acknowledged and celebrated for their contributions to the growth of our country’s wine and spirits industry, especially our fellow brothers and sisters from Limpopo. It was with much pride that we received our second Double Gold award from this prestigious judging panel, as it served as confirmation that we have maintained the impeccable standard of care and quality that we strive to put into every one of our products. We look forward to further engagement with the Michelangelo team in the future!”
Mashabela Galane enjoying some Moringa gin. Photo: jolygram.com
